J T Gray Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Over a meal (and inspired by various threads here and elsewhere on the GWF) my girlfriend and I fell to wondering how many nationalities were represented in WW1. I suspect it will always be contentious as many of the countries have changed name, shape, size etc since 1918. However I thought it would be interesting to try to work out just how many, ideally with the countries as they were in 1918. So for starters: British (some may moan, but this keeps the list a bit more manageable) French German Belgian Russian Portuguese (and how the hell did they get involved anyway? That has always mystified me) New Zealanders Australian Fijian Samoan Tongan (lucked out on the last three - Christine Liava'a had a post at the top of a thread! Thanks!) Canadians Americans (ie from the USA) Bulgarian Romanian Italian Austro-Hungarian (or do we count the Empire as its seperate countries?) Turkish Indian Chinese (does labour rather than combatant count?) German East African South African Algeria & Senegal (as part of French forces) Nepalese (how did I miss them out? D'oh!) So the nationality count must be in the twenties, at least. Who have I missed, and has anyone got a definitive total I wonder? Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Adrian, Japanese Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 28 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Japanese Brief details, for us ignorami, please! Forgot Serbia, and IIRC Salonika was in Greece. What more to come? Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Japanese Prime Minister Count Okuma's Ultimatum to Germany, 15 August 1914 We consider it highly important and necessary in the present situation to take measures to remove the causes of all disturbance of peace in the Far East, and to safeguard general interests as contemplated in the Agreement of Alliance between Japan and Great Britain. In order to secure firm and enduring peace in Eastern Asia, the establishment of which is the aim of the said Agreement, the Imperial Japanese Government sincerely believes it to be its duty to give advice to the Imperial German Government to carry out the following two propositions: (1) Withdraw immediately from Japanese and Chinese waters the German men-o'-war and armed vessels of all kinds, and to disarm at once those which cannot be withdrawn. (2) To deliver on a date not later than September 15th, to the Imperial Japanese authorities, without condition or compensation, the entire leased territory of Kiao-chau, with a view to the eventual restoration of the same to China. The Imperial Japanese Government announces at the same time that in the event of its not receiving, by noon on August 23rd, an answer from the Imperial German Government signifying unconditional acceptance of the above advice offered by the Imperial Japanese Government, Japan will be compelled to take such action as it may deem necessary to meet the situation. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 28 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Well well well, I didn't know that! Thank you Was there an active involvement anywhere, or just keeping German shipping at bay I wonder? Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Adrian, Although actually in China Tsingtao (Qingdao today) was leased to Germany as a colony by the Chinese government in the wake of the murder of two German missionaries in the late 19th century. In order to appease the German government following the two deaths China granted Germany a 99-year lease on the colony in 1898. Germany subsequently built a port and naval base at Tsingtao, establishing it as the main German installation in the Far East. Tsingtao was consequently garrisoned by some 4,000 troops. However on 16 August 1914, a full week prior to the formal Japanese declaration of war with Germany, General Mitsuomi Kamio was instructed by the Japanese government to make advanced preparations for the siege of the German-controlled port. The day prior the Japanese Prime Minister addressed an ultimatum to the German government, ordering the latter to remove German men-o'-war from Japanese and Chinese waters, and to hand over Tsingtao to Japanese control. Thus on 2 September 1914, shortly after war was declared by the Japanese, Kamio's 18th Division of 23,000 men backed by 142 guns began a bombardment of the port. Britain, wary of Japanese intentions in the region, decided to send 1,500 troops to assist the Japanese (and to keep a watchful eye upon proceedings). The Germany garrison, despite being outnumbered by some six to one, held out for over two months before finally surrendering on 7 November and handing over the port three days later. Kamio's siege tactics were much admired for their effectiveness; he advocated night raids and eschewed frontal attacks of the type shortly witnessed along the battlefields of France and Flanders. With the port's capture British forces were withdrawn and reallocated elsewhere. Following Chinese acceptance of Japan's Twenty-one Demands of January 1915 (agreed four months later) - issued upon pain of war - Tsingtao returned nominally into Chinese hands but did not in fact revert to Chinese control until 1922. Im sure the involvement of the Japanese navy in the Med caused a few losses. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Saillard Posted 28 October , 2006 Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Hello Adrian ! Another nationality to add to your list - Maltese. Regards Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 28 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 28 October , 2006 Another nationality to add to your list - Maltese. I am unlikley to reply tonight now, but details would be appreciated, please! Thanks to Charles for that clarification - most interesting. If we get enough I'll try to edit my OP when things run down to make a vaguely definitive list. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 This poster might help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walrus Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Possible additions? Newfoundland (seperate from Canada until the 1920s/30s) French Indo-China, (I believe as labourers, &c. ISTR reading that Ho Chi Minh saw service in logistics) British West Indies (sub-divide as necessary) I believe all the British African Colonies contributed to the War on one front or another. Do you want to count the various Arabs in the list? (When did Saudi &c. come into being?) Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Adrian, Japanese Regards Charles The 10th Lincolnshire in training at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, in late 1915 practiced trench attacks for the benefit of Russian and Japanese officers. There was "bomb throwing, erecting barbed wire entanglements with gas defence drill". The area was a quagmire and everyone thought the exercise would be cancelled, but the men lay on sodden ground for hours until the arrival of the Japanese, who were amazed at their hardiness. The 34th Division, of which the 10th was part, assembled at Sutton Veny in September 1915 and left for France on January 4, 1916. Prior to departure it was to be inspected by George V, but he had had an accident in France, so the inspection was carried out by Japanese officers. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Saillard Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Adrian, Malta was a British colony since 1800 and became the home of the British Mediterranean Fleet. Many Maltese sought employment in the armed forces and two Maltese regiments were in existance at the time of the First World War. These were The Royal Malta Artillery and the King's Own Malta Regiment. Some members of these units were seconded to British ones and saw service (and died) with them. Apart from these regular units, a Maltese Labour Corps was formed for service at Gallipoli and then transferred to Salonika. Maltese migrants to Australia, etc. also enlisted in the armed forces of those countries during the First World War. The island was also transformed into one large hospital for sick and wounded troops from the Gallipoli campaign with many schools, barracks, etc. being converted to provide a total of 27 hospitals. In view of the thousands of allied servicemen treated here, the island was referred to as The Nurse of the Mediterranean. Despite the efforts of dedicated nursing staff, a large number of these casualties were also regretfully buried here. Hope this information is useful for your purpose, Regards Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Ugandans, Sudanese, Somalians, Belgian Congolese Rhodesians Ghanians (Gold Coast) Nigerians Ceylonese Mauritians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Bermudians Jamaicans Bahamians Grenadians Trinidad Tobago St Lucia Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubriscoe Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Brazil. Within Brazil there were a large number of German immigrants, so there was a reluctance to go to war, but the effect of the U boats on Brazilian maritime trade gradually changed opinion. On 5th April 1917 the ship Parana was sunk, which eventually led to Brazil declaring war on 26th October 1917. Brazil's navy patrolled the Brazilian and West African coasts. An expeditionary force was prepared, probably to serve in Mesopotamia, but did not sail before the armistice. A medical mission was sent to Europe, and a Contigent of aeroplanes readied, but not sent before the end. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 British Guianans Basutos Sierra Leonians Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Nepalese Falkland Islanders Libyans (Senussi) Persians St Helenans Brazilians Cypriots Seychellois Egyptians Gambians Kenyans Cook Islanders Swazis Moroccans Algerians Tunisians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Norfolk Islanders should be added to the list. Descendants of the HMS Bounty mutiny were settled on Norfolk Island (1700km north east of Sydney) in 1856, and while the Island was administered by the NSW and Australian governments, it wasn't part of Australia when Federation occurred in 1901 - and, in the opinion of many on the island, it still isn't. In essence, it's a self-governing external territory with its own Customs, Quarantine and other laws. Norfolk Islanders served in the Australian, New Zealand and UK forces. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc leroux Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Newfoundland (seperate from Canada until the 1920s/30s) Seperate until 1949 marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borys Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Ahoj! Self-centred Anglo-Saxons - bleh ... The Russian Empire itself contributed over 100 nationalities, of which at least 20 would number over a million. Austro-Hungary counts for several dozen and Germany itself for at least 8. Borys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J T Gray Posted 29 October , 2006 Author Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Oh my goodness, I've created a monster! Errrr.... Perhaps I won't edit my OP, that way lies insanitary! OK Borys, you called us self-centred Anglo-Saxons (and personally I resemble that remark!) so... What are those nationalities? Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD60 Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Brazil. Within Brazil there were a large number of German immigrants, so there was a reluctance to go to war, but the effect of the U boats on Brazilian maritime trade gradually changed opinion. On 5th April 1917 the ship Parana was sunk, which eventually led to Brazil declaring war on 26th October 1917. Brazil's navy patrolled the Brazilian and West African coasts. An expeditionary force was prepared, probably to serve in Mesopotamia, but did not sail before the armistice. A medical mission was sent to Europe, and a Contigent of aeroplanes readied, but not sent before the end. Stuart There is a brasilian pilot De Viera which grave is in Chantilly cemetery. Maybe he served there in a french squadron ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 There are Brazilian Navy men buried in Gibraltar and one Brazilian Naval airman buried in Eastbourne, Sussex. He died while training with the RAF before the end of the war. You can also add the Vietnamese serving with the French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borys Posted 29 October , 2006 Share Posted 29 October , 2006 Oh my goodness, I've created a monster! Errrr.... Perhaps I won't edit my OP, that way lies insanitary! OK Borys, you called us self-centred Anglo-Saxons (and personally I resemble that remark!) so... What are those nationalities? Adrian Germany: - Germans - Danes - Frisians - Sorbians - Poles - Lithuanians - French - Masuren and Kaschuben can be counted as Poles or not Austro-Hungary: - Germans - Hungarians - Czechs - Poles - Ukranians - Croats - Serbs - Slovenes - Boshniaks - Ladins - Italians - Rumanians - Slovaks - Jews - Gypsies OK - I got carried away - only 15 Russia (no, I can't list all from memory - will 20 be enough?) - Russians - Ukranians - Poles - Belarus - Lithuanians - Germans - Latvians - Estonians - Finns - Georgians - Armenians - Crimean Tatars - Azeris - Kazakhs - Uzbeks - Turkmen - Kirgiz - Tadjik - Jews The one million mark is somewhere here - Karelians - Chuvash - Mordvin - Volga Tatar I'm not getting into Kalmuks and Karakalpaks or Circassians or Chechens or ... Borys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 30 October , 2006 Share Posted 30 October , 2006 Perhaps it would have been easier to have started a list of countries that WEREN'T involved. Don't anyone dare! Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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